Moments in history — Obama on Afganistan troops withdrawal

This seemed like a good time to update this blog with a new post.

At times it is hard to believe how long it has been since 9/11 and the war in Iraq began. When I was in a classroom at high school as the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center were attacked, I never would have thought today I would be a reporter helping document history. I think many people my age won't forget that moment, but how we have progressed since then is also interesting. We have had rather divisive national politics, but under dire circumstances we know our nation is united. Also, whether you support or don't support President Obama getting elected, it was another historic moment and one I won't forget.

Then, on top of the moments mentioned, we have the death of Osama bin Laden, which was another feat our country has accomplished. When I sit back and think about everything I've witnessed during my life it is rather remarkable. There are even more moments, positive and negative, I've seen but it would take too long to list. If you're reading this, you probably lived through all those moments too.

I didn't get to see the president live last night (I actually saw a movie screening for free), so if you were like me I'd take a minute to watch the video of his speech unless you already did before reading this post.

Typical Tuesday diet

In response to my previous entry about the not-so-great diet of my journalism lifestyle I thought it would be funny, in some aspect, to what my meals actually consisted of today.

Breakfest:

• Coffee (w/ cream and sugar of course)
• Little Debbie brownie

Lunch:

• Leftover chinese food
• sesame chicken
• pork fried rice
• three steamed dumplings
• Water

Dinner

• Another coffee (this time Dunkin Donuts)
• Chocolate glazed doughnut

There you have it folks, the diet of my pre-deadline day morning on Wednesday. Honestly, it doesn't usually differ too much from something like this on a Tuesday. Then on Wednesday morning I will usually get a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a hard roll with a coffee from the local market by my office. I need something to get me going that morning.

Oh, and digging my car out of the snow tomorrow morning will also be a welcomed joy.

A Journalist's New Years Resolution

I just finished reading the Columbia Journalism Review's story "The Hamster Wheel" that any journalist or someone who is interested in how their news is selected should read. The 24/7 news cycle and technology growth is truly shaping the news industry, but the media often times is just not accepting the evolution. Any reporter and journalism student know that fact.

This led me to hop onto their website, after carefully holding the print edition, where I stumbled across their blurb Media New Year's Resolutions. I think the first paragraph just rings so true.

No point giving up dark chocolate, red wine, or blacker-than-black coffee. We’re journalists. We’d last a week. Max.

If I've learned one thing about being a reporter, it is your diet tends to suffer. There is a mix of rapid fast food stops and coffee binges, while puffing done another cigarette to make it through the day.  I think if I had a resolution it would be to not eat so, well, unhealthy.  Oh, and maybe get some more sleep, but that might be asking for too much.

I'm sure some of my problems are my own fault.  Procrastination has been an ongoing problem for me. I'll never forget taking one of those tests online and coming up with the status "severe procrastinator," but the results are always the same for me.  I'm not sure why I am this way, but I think I have been making some stride in that category.

Making a New Year's resolution though I now view as a curse. I never am able to keep any resolution I make, so in many ways I think it is damning to make it in the first place. In some superstitious way, I don't want to damn myself in an area I want to make an improvement. For instance, last year my resolution was to take better care of my teeth, which my dentist was pleased to hear. Well, lets just say that didn't turn out quite how I planned.

Well, I already had some coffee, chocolate and a cigarette today, so I think I am off to a pretty nice start.

Bill Zeller suicide note

I happened to just stumble upon this story on Gizmodo and new as soon as I read it I would have to share it here to make sure everyone got the chance to read the suicide note Bill Zeller wrote.

To spare going into detail, it is a rather powerful and emotional piece of writing.  I think anything someone writes in a suicide note probably would be, but Zeller really takes the time to explain his reasoning for taking his life.  For a little background, he said he was sexually abused when he was a child and that stuck with him throughout his life, which caused him basically to never live a normal life.

Click here for Gizmodo story
 
Hopefully if others feel this way they can find something to help them out.

Let it snow

I might be one of the few people that actually enjoy the first snowfall. With many people it seems to instill dread of the upcoming season, but I always seemed to enjoy the coming of season.

Even though I do snowboard now, though I didn't go last year, I enjoyed the snow without the board under my feet. Sure, as a child I loved the first time I would get to go sledding or jump in my snow-filled backyard. There always seemed to be something magical about snow and the ironic warmth it would bring to me. Now that I'm older I do think back on all the good memories I had sloshing through the snow.

Who doesn't remember watching a local broadcast news station during the morning hours before school to find out it was a snow day? Those were one of the best days any kid can have growing up.  The freedom to know that on one blistery cold day you could escape the school day and just be a kid again. I have to say, I wish I still got snow days in the working world, but I had to pick the one profession that never stops for anything. At least I love what I do.

As my peers seem to let out cries against the white fluff on social sites, I can only share my excitement. Sure, there are things that aren't great, but I think every season has its ups and downs. To me, it just makes more sense to embrace the positive aspect. I'm not some happy-go-lucky person either, as many people will tell you, but for something you have no control over you might as well try to enjoy it if you can.

The snow ushers in many good things, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. I enjoy seeing all the Christmas lights around nearby towns and cities. There is a festive atmosphere in the winter that just isn't in any other season. You remember the family you have and the family members that are no longer around, but still in your thoughts. It is really about the good times.

When you look at the snow maybe you will see at as more than just white powder, or maybe you'll just be pissed you have to shovel out your car. Either way, cheers to the start of another winter.